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Description
A mounted cast skeleton of the therapod dinosaur Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, as based on current fossil discoveries and theories regarding the dinosaur, and centerpeice of the travelling exhibit Spinosaurus: Lost Giant of the Cretaceous , as seen at the National Geographic building in Washington, DC (the exhibit runs until April 2015). Spinosaurus is currently believed to be the largest theropod to have lived, having grown to a estimated length of 56ft (17m) and a weight of 7 tons (6.3 metric tons). The skeleton is mounted to as to display Spinosaurus as if it were swimming and stalking one of its most likely prey, the freshwater sawfish Onchopristis. Most palentologists agree that Spinosaurus was primarily a fish eater based on the evidence found in fossils of Spinosaurus and its relatives; however, two of its relatives were found to have the remains of Iguanodon and a pterosaur in their stomachs as well, suggesting the spinosaurs sometimes augmented their fish diet, either by hunting or scavenging (probably both). This particular skeleton of Spinosaurus is based on fossils recently found in the Kem Kem Fossil Beds in Morocco, though this reconstruction is somewhat controversial among palentologists, mostly regarding the hind legs. As seen in this picture, the skeleton features Spinosaurus with a set of hind legs that are smaller than those found on the majority of theropods (including its own relatives like Baryonyx and Suchomimimus). Palentologists Nizer Ibrahim and Paul Sereno, the two primary paleontologists responsible for redefining Spinosaurus's appearance, defend this reconstruction, while other palenotologists think the legs are too small for the animal and the reconstruction represents a chimera of different fossils. Paleoartist Scott Hartman , for example, believes the back legs should be upscaled about 27% based on the information Ibrahim and Sereno provided.

Description
A mounted cast skeleton of the therapod dinosaur Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, as based on current fossil discoveries and theories regarding the dinosaur, and centerpeice of the travelling exhibit Spinosaurus: Lost Giant of the Cretaceous , as seen at the National Geographic building in Washington, DC (the exhibit runs until April 2015). Spinosaurus is currently believed to be the largest theropod to have lived, having grown to a estimated length of 56ft (17m) and a weight of 7 tons (6.3 metric tons). The skeleton is mounted to as to display Spinosaurus as if it were swimming and stalking one of its most likely prey, the freshwater sawfish Onchopristis. Most palentologists agree that Spinosaurus was primarily a fish eater based on the evidence found in fossils of Spinosaurus and its relatives; however, two of its relatives were found to have the remains of Iguanodon and a pterosaur in their stomachs as well, suggesting the spinosaurs sometimes augmented their fish diet, either by hunting or scavenging (probably both). This particular skeleton of Spinosaurus is based on fossils recently found in the Kem Kem Fossil Beds in Morocco, though this reconstruction is somewhat controversial among palentologists, mostly regarding the hind legs. As seen in this picture, the skeleton features Spinosaurus with a set of hind legs that are smaller than those found on the majority of theropods (including its own relatives like Baryonyx and Suchomimimus). Palentologists Nizer Ibrahim and Paul Sereno, the two primary paleontologists responsible for redefining Spinosaurus's appearance, defend this reconstruction, while other palenotologists think the legs are too small for the animal and the reconstruction represents a chimera of different fossils. Paleoartist Scott Hartman , for example, believes the back legs should be upscaled about 27% based on the information Ibrahim and Sereno provided.